Multiple purpose chair



y 1, 1951 l. E. HERBERT 2,550,811

MULTIPLE PURPOSE CHAIR' Filed Nov. 20, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TORATTORNEY May 1, 1-951 I. E. HERBERT MULTIPLE PURPOSE CHAIR Filed Nov.20, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 2 zfaward Herbert v INVENTOII-K {gnaZ/us May 1,1951 E. HERBERT 5 ,8 j MULTIPLE PURPOSE CHAIR Filed Nov. 20, 1946 a 3Sheets-Sheet 3 i atenteci May 1, i951 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICEassasii MrJL'riPLE PURPOSE aims Ignatius Edward Herbert, Rochester, N.Y: Application November 20, 1946, Serial No. 711,12 16 Claims. (01.155-41) The present invention relates to improvements in a multiplepurpose article of furniture and more particularly to a chair capable ofuse as a toilet auiiiliary support, or as a desk, or for other purposes.

While articles of furniture and chairs havin multiple uses are Wellknown, such' chairs are oftenunsightly or' difficult to adjust orconvert for other purposes. Also', it is known that invalids,convalescents, elderly people, persons subject to constipation, andothers, require or find beneficial an auxiliary support duringevacuation upon a toilet. Such auxiliary support maybe provided as anarm rest and/or a head rest and prevents overtiring or overtaking of apersons vitality or muscles so that evacuation may he expedited eventhough a substantial period of time is re uired. Furthermore, in smallliving quarters such as a hotel room or apartment it is often desirableto have one or more chairs which will serve additional purposessuch'as"becoming a small table or a desk; Known multiple' purpose chairs areboth inadequate for the aforementioned purposes and are unsightly or tooreadily recognizabl'e'as such.

a The primary obj'ectpf the prese'nt'invention is'the' provision of amultiple purpose chair which has the appearance and usefulness of anordinary chair but which has a seat and a back that are movableindependently into positions toserve as an arm rest and ahead rest,respectively; for a person'seated on a toilet, or to serve as an auxnarytable or stand or'a small Writing desk.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a multiple purposechair having a seat member movable from the level'of the seat of astandard chair toa higher level above the legs, knees and/or thighs of aperson seated on a toilet and facing said chair and so as'to'provide anarm, hand and/r elbow restfor such person.

A further object is the'provision' of a multiple purpose chair havingaback rest movable from a" standard vertical position 'to a horizontal"position" over the seat member to constitute alter,- nately a headrest'for a'person seated o-na toilet facing said chair; or a Writingdesk; or a small table or stand. I H Still another object of theinvention is the provision of detachable connections and/or resilientmeansbetween the supporting'fraine and the seat member'tofacilitate'change' in the: level of the seat member for-variouspurposes; A still further object is the provision off'a brace means anda'detachable hinge connection forthe back-rest and whereby the same maybe sup,-

ported in a-horizontal position, or inclined position, or in ahorizontal or inolinedposition at various levels so that the operativeposition qf said back rest can be altered to" that best suited foruseoftliebackre st as a head rest ores avvritiii'g fstand',

Otherand further objects of the invention will be suggested ,to thoseskilled in the art by the description whichfollows. I 7 ,r

The invention consists in the novel and. use ful provision, formation,construction, association, and relative arrangementof parts, members andfeatures all as shown in certain embodiments, the accompanying drawings,described in the specification, and particularly pointed out in theappended claims. n w,

Although the multiple purpose chair of the invention has severalruses,perhaps its most important use is as atoilet auxiliary chair. Hence, thedisclosure is primarily directed to that use of th chair with theadvantages of the chair for other purposes being occasionally mentioned.

Reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings wherein similarreference characters designate similar elements and' wherein: H,

Fig." l is a perspective view of the multiple purpose chair according tothe invention and with the seat member and back rest in standardpositions.

Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview of said multiple purpose chair with the seatmember and back rest in elevated positions. v Y, Y, M

Fig; 3 is a side elevation, of said multiplepurpose chairand includes anillustration of its use byaperson seated onatoilet.

Figs. 4 and 5 arerespectively front a d rear elevations of said multiplepurposechair. n

Fig; 6 is azfragmentary vertical section of the back rest andbracemeanstherefor.v V U Fig. 6a isa fragmentary perspective to enlarged scale ofthe abutment of the brace means;

Figs. '7 and 8 are respectively fragmentarysiide elevations and verticalsections of the detachable connections for the. seat'member. V

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section through a combined detachableconnectioniand resilient means for the seat member.

Fig; 10 is a fragmentary) front elevation of a portion of the supportingframe and of the detachabl'e" resilient connection attachedto the seatmember.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical section of a m'odification'of theadjustable hinge connection for the-backrest;

In the illustrated, embodiments, the multiple purpose chair according tothe invention comprises a supporting frame including aback frame andside supports, a seat member, detachable connections for supp f rtingsaid seat member at various levels; a back rest, and brace means to radjustably supporting said back rest in a position to serve as a headrest for a person facing thechair. h h H v T 5 1 1 5. fram l v a Pq ilYSp tional form or 7 can be designed to have certain structural partswhich are of a .partigularadvantage to a chair of the type contemplated,

Although the illustrated embodiment shows a supporting frame of tubularmetal construction which affords certain special and peculiar advantagesas shown, it is to be understood that the invention in its broadestaspects is not limited to any particular form of supporting frame aslong as it is capable of supporting a seat member for adjustment todifferent levels and/or a back rest for movement to a horizontalposition or positions slightly inclined to the horizontal.

The back frame of said supporting frame is designated generally as H andcomprises an upper horizontal portion [2, a pair of upright portions l3and I4, and a pair of lower horizontal portions l5 and I6. Said uprightportions l3 and i l are both at right angles to said upper -horizontalportion l2 but are in parallel spaced.

relation to each other. In turn, the lower horizontal portions l5 and 16are also in parallel spaced relation to each other and are eachrespectively perpendicular to said upright portions l3 and M. The sidesupports l7 and I8 are shown as having an inverted U-shape. Side supportl'i includes a horizontal member l9 and a pair of leg members 20 and 2|while side support 18 includes a horizontal member 22 and a pair of legmembers 23 and 24. Said side supports [1 and [8 are fastened to the backframe Ii in parallel spaced relation to each other as by a pair ofrivets 25 and 26 between upright portion l3 and leg member 20, see Figs.'7 and 8, and a rivet 21 between leg member 2| and the lower horizontalportion iii of said back frame II.

The back frame II and side supports I? and I3 may be constructed ofintegral or separate portions of metal, wood or other material but arepreferably made respectively of metal tubes formed as shown. Also, it isto be understood that the side supports I1 and [8 may be bolted, welded,or. otherwise securely fastened to the back frame II.

A seat member 28 is placed between said side supports l1 and I8 andaccording to the invention i supported by the supporting frame at alevel like that of a standard chair, or approximately eighteen inchesabove the floor, and is adjustably supported by a plurality ofdetachable connections at a higher level such as above the thighs of aperson seated on a toilet. The higher level for the seat member 28 isdetermined by the thickness of said seat member 28 and of the thighs ofthe person who i facing the toilet auxiliary chair and resting his orher arms upon the seat member 28 with legs and thighs between sidesupports I! and I8 and below said seat member 28. If the differencebetween the lowermost and uppermost levels of the seat member 28 is sixto eight inches, the toilet auxiliary chair can be used as intended byall except abnormally tall and/or fat persons.

As shown the seat member 23 is wide enough to rest in its lowermostposition directly upon lower horizontal portions 15 and it of back frameH and yet is narrow enough to be raised and lowered between sidesupports I! and i8. Also said seat member 28 preferably has its rear;edge adjacent the upright portions i3 and 14 of the back frame ll.

While the present invention embraces any manner of supporting the seatmember 28 for movement to a plurality of positions without interferingwith the placing of legs or thighs under the seat member, thepreferred-manner is being shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

In general, said detachable connections comprise a plurality ofprojections on the seat member 28 and corresponding vertical membersand/or upright portions of or on the supporting frame.

As shown in Figs. 1-3 a pair of projections 29 and 39 extend laterallyfrom one side edge of the seat member 28 and a corresponding pair ofprojections, not shown, extend from the other side edge of said seatmember 28. A pair of laterally notched vertical members 3! and 32 aremounted between horizontal member IQ of side support I? and lowerhorizontal portion l5 of back frame H and are respectively adjacent thefront and rear of the chair. A second pair of laterally notched verticalmembers 33 and 34 are similarly mounted between horizontal member 22 andlower horizontal portion It; at the other side of the chair. Saidvertical members 31-4-34 may be attached to the supporting frame bymeans of screws 35 or in any other convenient manner such as welding orriveting.

t will be evident from Fig. 1 that the seat member 28 can be raised to ahigher level merely by pulling it forward, raising the same to thedesired level and then pushing said seat member 28 backward so that thelateral projections, like 29 and 3!), thereon enter corresponding higherlevel notches in vertical members 3!34. Said lateral projections, suchas 29 and 30, may have the outer end bent to limit lateral movement ofthe seat member 28 when the detachable connections are engaged.

Engagement of the detachable connections when in an adjusted positionfor a selected level of the seat member 28 can be efiected by one ormore resilient means operatively connected between the supporting frameand said seat member 28 and arranged to urge said detachable connectionsinto engagement. Since such resilient means should function at variouslevels of the seat member 23, it is preferred to provide a slidableconnection between said resilient means and the supporting frame. Anunusually simple but effective way of so arranging such resilient meansis shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Since it is rarely if ever desired to raise the seat level less thanabout four inches a few of the lower lateral notches may be omitted fromthe vertical members as shown with respect to the vertical member 3! inFigs. 7 and 8. The resilient means above mentioned may mostadvantageously be enclosed within either or both of upright portions I3and M which for that purpose are provided with a vertical slot 36. Aheaded stud 3! is mounted in the rear edge of seat member 28 and extendsthrough slot 36 into the interior of the upright portion l3 and/or M. Acurved leaf spring 38 has its center portion bearing against the head ofstud 31 and has its opposite ends bearing against the slotted Wall ofthe upright portion [3. When such a resilient means is provided it is nolonger necessary to push the seat member 28 backward to engage thedetachable connections because the resilient means automatically doesso.

A further improvement according to the invention is a consolidation ofthe resilient means just described and the pair of rearward series of basedei i detachable connections including vertical member 3:! and 33,and the corresponding lateral projections, such as29, on the seat member28. To this end 'the upright portions 13 and I 4 of the back frame H areeach provided, on the sides adjacent the edge of seat member 28, with avertical slot having vertical spaced enlargements, such as slot 39 andenlargements 48 shown in Fig. 10. A headed'stud 4! is threadedinto abushing .42 within the rear edge of-seat member 28. The headed'stud 4|has a shank 4-3 which fits "into the enlargements 4.8 in slot 39-andwhich is provided with a pair of opposite recesses to form a restrictedportion 44. A coil spring 45 encircles shank 43 of stud 4| and a washer48 is interposed between said spring 45 and the slotted wall :of thetubular upright portion I3. A screw plug 4! in the side of uprightportion l3 can be removed 'to facilitate the assembly 'of the resilientmeans within said upright portion [3 and the attachment of headed stud44 to the seat member 28.

The vertical slot 39 has a length corresponding to the overall verticaladjustment of seat member 28 and enlargements 48 are provided atvertically spaced locations accordingto the height and number of seatlevels desired. Normally the spring 45 holds the shank 43 withinenlargement 48 so that the pair of headed studs, like stud 4|, supportthe rear edge of seat member 28. order to change the seat level the seatmember 28 is pulled forwardly to bring restricted portion "44 in linewith the edge'of slot 39 so that the stud 4| can be moved along saidslot 39. Of course, the forward movement of seat member 28 alsodisengages the lateral projections from the forward pair of laterallynotched vertical members 32-and 34 so that the seat member '28 can bemoved 'up or down to the desired level. When the desired seat level isfound the seat member 28 is released and the resilient means or coilsprings within the sup-porting frame simultaneously move the lateralprojections into engagement with said vertical members 32 and 34 andalso draw the shanks 43 into engagement with the enlargements 48 at theadjusted or desired level. Thus "the seat member is supported at fourpoints and at any of several selected levels by four detachableconnections which are brought into engagement by 'a resilient meanshoused within the frame of the chair.

The back rest of the multiple purpose chair according to the inventionalso has a standard position and an operative or head rest position.*The back rest 48 is mounted upon the back frame I], is preferablyshaped and proportioned to lie between the upright portions [3 and I4and is movable to an operative position over the seat member 28. Saidback rest 48 may be operatively connected to said back frame H in anyconvenient manner such as by a pair of hinge members 48 each having acentral circular portion 58 journaled on the upper horizontal portion I2'and' each having its ends 5| fastened to back rest '48 by'a pair ofbolts 52. Preferably said back rest 48 is provided with recesses 53 forreceiving the ends 5| of the hinge members 49.

,In order to vary the extent that the back rest 48 overlies the seatmember 28, adjustable connections are provided between said back rest 48andv saidhinges 49. For this purpose the back rest48 isprovided near itsupperedge with a .plurality of equally spacedholes 54 which arein.alignment .and, the ends .5 l of. hinge 'members 49 are also providedwith a plurality of holes "55 6 similarl-yspaced. Any one or more ofsaid holes 54 and can be placed in registry to vary the spacing of theback rest 48 from upper horizontal portion 42 and one or more bolts 52inserted to maintain the adjusted position.

A brace means is operatively connected betweensaid back frame ll andback rest 48 for supporting the latter in operative position andpermitting folding of said back rest 48 to a vertical or standardposition between upright portions [3 and of back frame I I. Such a bracemeans should not interfere with the hands or arms of the person usingseat member '28 as a rest and should be adjustable to provide differentinclinations for the operative position of the back rest 48.

As shown, the brace means comprises a brace member 55 and an abutment5'! which is on the rear face of back rest 48. The brace member 56 ispreferably U-shaped and has a cross portion 58, side :portions 58perpendicular thereto, and ends 60 bent at right angles outwardly tosaid side portions 59. The inner sides of upright portions 53 and I4 ofthe back frame H are each provided with a hole 6| adapted to receiveends 68 of brace member 56. A plurality of such holes 6| may be providedin vertical spaced relationalong said upright portions 13 and I4 so thatthe ends 64 of brace member .56 may be inserted at different elevationsfor a purpose presently to be described. The abutment 51" is preferablyformed of a strip 62 fastened by screws 63 to the rear surface of backrest 48 and at each end has a tooth 84 with a gradually inclined face'65 and an abruptly inclined face 66, see Fig. 6a. A;springguidestrip-Bl is fastened at its ends by screws '88 to the rear face ofback rest 48 and extends transversely of abutment 5? and cross portion'58 of brace member 56. Said strap 81 is rather lightly biased towardthe rear face of back rest 48 so as to urge said cross portion 58 towardsaid rear face of back rest 48, see Fig. 6.

The use and. operation of the multiple purpose chair willnow bedescribed. When ready for use as a regular chair, the seat member 28 isin its lowermost position, resting directly upon said lower horizontalportions l5 and i6 oftheback frame ll, and the back rest 48 is in itsvertical position. It should'be noted that the ends 68 of brace member56 act as stops to prevent the back rest 48 from swinging backwardlythrough the back frame I I and the frictionalengagement between crossportion 58 of brace member 56 and the spring guide strip 5? tends toprevent free forward swinging of the back rest 43 when the chair ismoved. Under these conditions, best shown in Fig. 1,.the multiplepurpose chair can be used in a normal fashion because the seat member 28and-back rest 48 are in thepositions for such parts of a regula chair.

When used as a toilet auxiliary chair by a -,1:; .erson seated. onatoilet .as depicted in Fig.3, "the chair is placed facing the user andthe seat The higher level for the chair seat provides space for thelegs, knees, and/or thighs of the .useran'd allowsxthe toilet auxiliarychairtolbe .moved" to a position which best suits .the user and soth'at'the weight of'the upperbody maybe placed upon the chair to relieve suchweight from the lower body and provide the proper relaxation to assistand facilitate evacuation even though considerable time is required.

At times as in the case of invalids, elderly persons and convalescents,it may also be desirable to provide a support for the head. In suchevent the back rest 48 is swung outwardly whereupon the brace member 56is also swung outwardly and cross portion 58 moves across the rear faceof back rest 48, being urged thereagainst by spring guide strip Saidcross portion 58 is moved against the action of said spring guide strip6] by inclined face 55 as raising of the back rest 48 is continued.Finally, said cross portion 58 is pressed against the rear face of backrest 48 on the other side of abutment 57 and, when raising movement isdiscontinued, the Weight or .said back rest 48 and any additional weightthereon brings the abruptly inclined face 66 oz" abutment 5! and thecross portion 58 of brace member 56 into engagement. As a result thebrace member 56, which is connected to the supporting frame of thechair, constitutes a support for the back or head rest 18. The user maynow rest his or her head upon rest 48, also as illustrated in Fig. 3,and thereby further transfer the weight of the upper body to the toiletauxiliary chair additionally to ease and assist evacuation.

The center pair of holes 6!, see Fig. 6, are located so that crossportion 53, engages abut- .ment 5! when the back or head rest 68 is in ahorizontal position. However, the head rest may provide better supportto the user at some other angle and/or if relatively nearer to the user.In the latter event the attachment of the hinge members 49 to the backrest 48 is adjusted as previously explained. When a different angle forrest 48 is desired, the side portions 55 of brace member 56 are sprunginwardly to retract ends 60 from holes 6i and said ends are insertedinto a lower or higher set of holes. Whereupon t e back or headrest 48will have an upward or downward inclination. Also this same adjustmentof the inclination of the back rest in its operative position is veryuseful when the rest is to be used as a Writing stand or desk. 7

In addition to mounting the rear edge of back rest 58 for horizontaladjustment with respect to the hinge members d8, it may be desirable soto mount said back rest :8 that its elevation as well as its horizontalor inclined positions can be varied. One such arrangement of the hingeconnection for back rest 58 is shown in Fig. 11. As before a pair ofhinge members 58 each has a circular portion 55 encircling the upperhorizontal portion l2 of back frame H and each has ends 5|. However, theends 5| are provided with vertically spaced bayonet slots 55. A hingebar '15 has a pair of headed studs H adapted to enter and engage anypair of corresponding bayonet slots 69. A hinge part 12 is pivotallyconnected by a pintle T3 to hinge bar 10 and is provided with aplurality of holes is in spaced alignment corresponding to that of holes54 in back rest 48. Bolts 52 are inserted through any one or more ofregistering holes 5 1 and i i to fasten the back rest 48 in varioushorizontal relative positions with respect to hinge assembly 72 and iii.The back rest d8 may be supported by the brace means in a horizontal orinclined position as already explained. If the elevation of said backrest 48 is not quite right, the headed studs 11 are removed from onepair of bayonet slots 69 and reinserted in another pair of them.

7 an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Again the ends 60 of side portions 59 can be changed to engage others ofholes 6| in upright portions l3 and 14 either to support back rest 48 ina horizontal position or at some desired inclination.

While not constituting a feature of the invention, it is understood thatthe seat member 28 and back or head rest 48 may be covered, padded, orotherwise specially formed as desired.

After use themultiple purpose or toilet auxiliary chair may be returnedto its original form. Upon slightly lifting the back rest 48 andpressing downwardly on side portions 59, the cross portion 58 will clearthe abutment 51 and the back rest 48 is swung downwardly until it abutsthe ends 60 of the brace member 56. Also the seat member 28 may bereturned to its lowermost or standard level in a manner alreadyexplained.

If it is desired to disguise the nature of the multiple purpose ortoilet auxiliary chair the side supports ll and I8 and/or the back frameH may be upholstered or covered in any desired fashion.

One of the special advantages of the multiple purpose chair according tothe invention over known chairs with adjustable parts is the ability toadjust the level of the seat member 23 with respect to the operativeposition of the back or head rest 48. Since certain refinements oralterations can be made in the multiple purpose chair without departingfrom the spirit of my inven tion, the present disclosure is to beconstrued in The scope of the invention is defined in the claims whichfollow.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. A multiple purpose chair comprising a supporting frame having twoside members and a back frame including a cross portion above said sidemembers and connected to each of said side members to maintain them inparallel spaced relation without obstructing the space therebetween, aseat member adjustably connected between said side members, movable to alevel like that of a standard chair and movable to a level which isabove the thighs of a person seated on a toilet, and a back membermounted upon said back frame, movable to an upright position like thatof the back rest of a standard chair and within said back frame andmovable to a horizontal position to form a head rest for a person seatedon a toilet and using said seat member as an arm rest, said crossportion of the back frame and said seat member being the only crossconnections between the respective side members.

V 2. A multiple purpose chair comprising a supporting frame having twoinverted U -shaped side members and an inverted U-shaped back frameincluding a cross portion above said side members and including legsconnected respectively to one leg of each of said side members, a seatmember adjustably connected to said side memhere for movement from theseat level of a standard chair to a level which is above the thighs of aperson seated on a toilet, and a back member operatively connected tosaid back support and movable to a position above said seat member toform a head rest for a person seated on a toilet and using said seatmember as an arm rest.

3. A multiple purpose chair comprising two side members and a back frameincluding a cross portion above saidside members and connected to eachof said side members to maintain them in parallel spaced relationwithout obstructing the space therebetween, a seat member adjustablefrom a lowermost position which is at a standard height to any one ofseveral upper posi tions which is at a level above the thighs of aperson seated on a toilet, a back member mounted upon said back frameadapted in upright position to constitute a back rest and movable to anoperative position over said seat member to form a head rest for aperson seated on a toilet and using said seat member as an arm rest, andbrace means operatively connected between said back frame and said backrest and for holding the same in said operative position over said seatmember, said cross portion, said seat member and said brace means beingthe only cross con nections between the respective side members.

4. A' multiple purpose chair comprising a supporting frame having twoinverted U-shaped side members and an inverted U-shaped back frameincluding legs connected respectively to one leg of each of said sidemembers and including a cross portion above said side members tomaintain them in parallel spaced relation without obstructing the spacetherebetween, and a seat member adjustably connected between said sidemembers, and movable to a level like that of a standard chair with saidside members substantially above said seat member and to a level whichis above the thighs of a seated person facing the chair, said crossportion and seat member constituting the only cross connections betweenthe respective side members.

'5. A multiple purpose chair comprising a frame having a plurality ofvertical members each provided with vertically spaced openings, a seatmember within said frame and having edges adjacent said verticalmembers, a plurality of projections extending from the edges of saidseat member and for detachabl', engaging the openings in said verticalmembers, and resilient means attached to said seat member and slidablyconnected to said frame for urging the projections on said seat memberinto engagement with the openings in said vertical members.

6. A multiple purpose chair comprising a supporting frame having a pairof laterally spaced upright hollow portions, a seat member within saidsupporting frame, a plurality of detachable connections between saidsupporting frame and said seat member for supporting said seat member atvarious levels and adapted to be disengaged by movement of said seatmember in its own plane, and a pair of spring members each within saidupright hollow portions of the supporting frame and connected to saidseat member for urging the same to cause engagement of said detachableconnections.

7. A multiple purpose chair comprising a supporting frame having a pairof laterally spaced upright hollow portions each provided with avertical slot and vertically spaced enlarged openings, a seat memberwithin said supporting frame and having an edge adjacent said uprightportions, a pair of projections extending fromthe edge of said seatmember, respectively projecting into said enlarged openings and eachhaving a restricted portion slidable in said vertical slot, and a pairof spring members each within said upright hollow portions of thesupporting frame and respectively connected to said projections forurging said projections into one pair of enlarged openings butretraotible until said restricted portions are opposite to and slidablein said vertical slots.

8. A toilet auxiliary chair comprising a back frame having an upperhorizontal portion, a pair of spaced vertical hollow portions and a pairof lower horizontal portions perpendicular to said vertical portions, apair of side supports in parallel spaced relation and each attached tothe vertical and lower horizontal portions of said back frame, a pair ofvertical notched members mounted between said side supports and thelower horizontal portions of said back frame, a seat member adapted torest upon said lower horizontal portions at a standard height of a chairseat, a pair of projections on each side of said seat member and adaptedto engage said notched members to support said seat member at a levelabove the thighs of a person seated on a toilet, and resilient meanswithin the vertical tubular portions of said back frame and for urgingthe projections on said seat member into engagement with said verticalnotched members.

9. A multiple purpose chair com-prising a supporting frame having a pairof spaced vertical portions each provided with vertically spaced holes,a back rest, detachable and adjustable hinge connections between saidframe and said back rest and for varying the elevation of the axis ofsaid hinge connection with respect to said frame, and a brace memberhaving a central portion operatively engaging and holding said back restin operative position and having ends engaging any corresponding pair ofholes in said vertical portions, said upper horizontal portion and saidbrace member being the only cross connections between said verticalportions of said supporting frame.

10. A multiple purpose chair comprisin a supporting frame having a pairof spaced vertical portions each provided with vertically spaced holes,a back rest, detachable and adjustable hinge connections between saidframe and said back. rest and for varying the horizontal displacement ofsaid back rest and elevation of the axis of said hinge connection withrespect to said frame, and a brace member having a central portionoperatively engaging and holding said back rest in operative positionand having ends engaging any corresponding pair of holes in saidvertical portions, said upper horizontal portion and said brace memberbeing the only cross connections between said vertical portions of saidsupporting frame.

IGNATIUS EDWARD HERBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 365,344 Lawrence et al June 21,1887 647,156 Rogers Apr. 10, 1900 668,038 Duhamel Feb. 12, 19011,146,236 Chipps July 13, 1915 1,269,967 Sill June 18, 1918 1,473,702Guthridge et al. Nov. 13, 1923 1,787,108 I-Iarter Dec. 30, 19301,795,119 Hamilton Mar. 3, 1931 1,855,245 Kuenzel Apr. 26, 19322,430,656 Wright Nov. 11, 194? 2,465,104 Kullack Mar. 22, 1949 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 10,231 Great Britain of 1899

